Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid: Match Verdict
Arsenal were held to a 2-2 draw against Sunderland with Liverpool handed a lifeline in the Premier League title race.
Mikel Arteta refused to comment on whether he’s hoping Liverpool’s clash against Manchester City ends in a stalemate after Arsenal dropped points in the Premier League title race.
The Gunners had the chance to stretch nine points clear at the top of the table - and 10 ahead of English champions Liverpool. But Arsenal were held to a 2-2 draw at Sunderland, with Brian Brobbey bagging a 94th-minute equaliser for the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light.
It means that Liverpool have been handed a lifeline in their quest to defend the title, having given up ground following four successive league defeats. City, who have won six Premier Leagues since Pep Guardiola took charge in 2016, have lost three top-flight games this season to hand Arsenal an early advantage.
All eyes will be on the Etihad Stadium encounter as modern-day rivals Liverpool and City - who have claimed every English championship between them since 2017 - recommence their battle.
Speaking to beIN Sport, Arteta was asked if he will also be tuning in. The Arsenal head coach replied: “I will be watching it for sure, yeah.” Then quizzed if a draw will be the result he is hoping for, Arteta said: “Let’s see, that is not in my control.”
Arsenal conceded their first goal in 810 minutes when Dan Ballard opened the scoring for Sunderland in the 36th minute. The Gunners did battle back in the second half, with Bukayo Saka equalising before Leandro Trossard giving the visitors the lead. However, Brobbey came off the bench to earn Sunderland a point, with the newly-promoted side continuing to punch above their weight.
Asked about conceding a goal for the first time in more than 13 hours of football, Arteta said at his post-match press conference (via arsenal.com): “A pain in my tummy because I don’t want to concede any goals. And it was a goal obviously that was putting the game in a difficult position.”
Arteta also admitted that he was left frustrated by the fact that Arsenal threw away two points and felt his troops could have defended better. He added: “Again, unsatisfied because I want to win, and the game was almost there. But you know this is the Premier League and the manner that they play, they're going to harm you in their way.
“It's just one goal difference there. I'm frustrated because it's an action that we can defend better, but as well you have to give credit to the opposition to do what they've done, to put the ball there, to head the ball the way they've done it and then the striker it to do that action and to put the ball in the net, and sometimes you have to do that and recognise that as well.”
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